Commune in Centre-Val de Loire, France
Prefecture and commune in Centre-Val de Loire, France
Bourges
(
French pronunciation:
[bu??]
ⓘ
) is a commune in central
France
on the river
Yevre
. It is the capital of the
department
of
Cher
, and also was the capital city of the former
province
of
Berry
.
History
[
edit
]
The name of the commune derives either from the
Bituriges
, the name of the original inhabitants, or from the
Germanic
word
Burg
(French:
bourg
; Spanish:
burgo
; English, others:
burgh
,
berg
, or
borough
), for "hill" or "village". The
Celts
called it
Avaricon
;
Latin
-speakers:
Avaricum
. In the fourth century BC, as in the time of
Caesar
, the area around it was the center of a Gallic (Celtic) confederacy.
In 52 BC, the sixth year of the
Gallic Wars
, while the
Gauls
implemented a
scorched-earth
policy to try to deny Caesar's forces supplies, the inhabitants of Avaricum begged not to have their town burned.
[
citation needed
]
It was temporarily spared due to its good defences provided by the surrounding marshes, by a river that nearly encircled it, and by a strong southern wall. Julius Caesar's forces, nevertheless, captured and destroyed the town, killing all but 800 of its inhabitants.
[3]
Rome reconstructed Avaricum as a Roman town, with a monumental gate,
aqueducts
,
thermae
and an amphitheatre; it reached a greater size than it would attain during the Middle Ages. The massive walls surrounding the late-Roman town, enclosing 40 hectares, were built in part with stone re-used from earlier public buildings.
The third-century AD
Saint Ursinus
, also known as Saint Ursin, is considered
[
by whom?
]
the first bishop of the town. Bourges functions as the seat of an
archbishopric
. During the 8th century Bourges lay on the northern fringes of the
Duchy of Aquitaine
and was therefore the first town to come under Frankish attacks when the
Franks
crossed the Loire. The Frankish
Charles Martel
captured the town in 731, but Duke
Odo the Great
of Aquitaine immediately re-took it. It remained under the rule of counts who pledged allegiance to the Aquitanian dukes up to the destructive
siege
by the Frankish King
Pepin the Short
in 762, when
Basque
troops are found defending the town along with its count.
During the
Middle Ages
, Bourges served as the capital of the
Viscounty
of Bourges until 1101. In the fourteenth century, it became the capital of the
Duchy of Berry
(established in 1360). The future king of France,
Charles VII
(
r.
1422?1461
), sought refuge there in the 1420s during the
Hundred Years' War
. His son,
Louis XI
, was born there in 1423. In 1438, Charles VII decreed the
Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges
. During this period, Bourges was a major centre of
alchemy
.
[
citation needed
]
The
Gothic
Cathedral of Saint Etienne
, begun at the end of the twelfth century, ranks as a
World Heritage Site
. It is considered
[
by whom?
]
one of the earliest examples of the
High Gothic
style of the thirteenth century.
[4]
Bourges has a long tradition of art and history. Apart from the cathedral, other sites of importance include the 15th-century
Palais Jacques Cœur
and a sixty-five-hectare district of half-timbered houses and fine
town-houses
.
Population
[
edit
]
Historical population
Year
| Pop.
| ±% p.a.
|
---|
1793
| 15,964
| ?
|
---|
1800
| 16,330
| +0.32%
|
---|
1806
| 17,552
| +1.21%
|
---|
1821
| 18,910
| +0.50%
|
---|
1831
| 19,730
| +0.43%
|
---|
1836
| 25,324
| +5.12%
|
---|
1841
| 22,826
| ?2.06%
|
---|
1846
| 24,799
| +1.67%
|
---|
1851
| 25,037
| +0.19%
|
---|
1856
| 26,799
| +1.37%
|
---|
1861
| 28,064
| +0.93%
|
---|
1866
| 30,119
| +1.42%
|
---|
1872
| 31,312
| +0.65%
|
---|
1876
| 35,785
| +3.39%
|
---|
1881
| 40,217
| +2.36%
|
---|
1886
| 42,829
| +1.27%
|
---|
1891
| 45,342
| +1.15%
|
---|
1896
| 43,587
| ?0.79%
|
---|
| Year
| Pop.
| ±% p.a.
|
---|
1901
| 46,551
| +1.32%
|
---|
1906
| 44,133
| ?1.06%
|
---|
1911
| 45,735
| +0.72%
|
---|
1921
| 45,942
| +0.05%
|
---|
1926
| 44,245
| ?0.75%
|
---|
1931
| 45,067
| +0.37%
|
---|
1936
| 49,263
| +1.80%
|
---|
1946
| 51,040
| +0.35%
|
---|
1954
| 53,879
| +0.68%
|
---|
1962
| 60,632
| +1.49%
|
---|
1968
| 70,814
| +2.62%
|
---|
1975
| 77,300
| +1.26%
|
---|
1982
| 76,432
| ?0.16%
|
---|
1990
| 75,609
| ?0.14%
|
---|
1999
| 72,480
| ?0.47%
|
---|
2007
| 71,155
| ?0.23%
|
---|
2012
| 66,666
| ?1.29%
|
---|
2017
| 64,551
| ?0.64%
|
---|
|
|
Source: EHESS
[5]
and INSEE (1968?2017)
[6]
|
Geography
[
edit
]
Bourges sits at the river junction where the
Auron
flows into the
Yevre
. The disused
Canal de Berry
follows alongside the course of the Auron through Bourges.
Climate
[
edit
]
Bourges, located in the center of
France
, away from the
Atlantic Ocean
, features a typical
degraded oceanic climate
(
Koppen
:
Cfb
), characterized by colder, drier winters and warmer, wetter summers than the oceanic climate.
Climate data for Bourges (
Bourges Airport
), elevation: 166 m or 545 ft, 1981?2010 normals
|
Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
Year
|
Record high °C (°F)
|
17.6
(63.7)
|
22.6
(72.7)
|
29.4
(84.9)
|
29.4
(84.9)
|
32.0
(89.6)
|
38.0
(100.4)
|
39.6
(103.3)
|
39.9
(103.8)
|
35.1
(95.2)
|
31.7
(89.1)
|
23.4
(74.1)
|
20.0
(68.0)
|
39.9
(103.8)
|
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
|
6.9
(44.4)
|
8.5
(47.3)
|
12.5
(54.5)
|
15.5
(59.9)
|
19.6
(67.3)
|
23.1
(73.6)
|
26.0
(78.8)
|
25.6
(78.1)
|
21.8
(71.2)
|
17.0
(62.6)
|
10.7
(51.3)
|
7.4
(45.3)
|
16.3
(61.3)
|
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
|
1.1
(34.0)
|
1.1
(34.0)
|
3.4
(38.1)
|
5.3
(41.5)
|
9.2
(48.6)
|
12.4
(54.3)
|
14.4
(57.9)
|
14.1
(57.4)
|
11.1
(52.0)
|
8.3
(46.9)
|
4.0
(39.2)
|
1.8
(35.2)
|
7.2
(45.0)
|
Record low °C (°F)
|
?20.4
(?4.7)
|
?16.4
(2.5)
|
?11.3
(11.7)
|
?3.7
(25.3)
|
?2.6
(27.3)
|
3.4
(38.1)
|
4.6
(40.3)
|
4.6
(40.3)
|
1.8
(35.2)
|
?5.0
(23.0)
|
?9.1
(15.6)
|
?14.0
(6.8)
|
?20.4
(?4.7)
|
Average
precipitation
mm (inches)
|
55.2
(2.17)
|
52.0
(2.05)
|
53.2
(2.09)
|
62.4
(2.46)
|
78.6
(3.09)
|
60.5
(2.38)
|
66.1
(2.60)
|
55.0
(2.17)
|
59.7
(2.35)
|
71.7
(2.82)
|
65.7
(2.59)
|
67.8
(2.67)
|
747.9
(29.44)
|
Average precipitation days
|
11.6
|
9.3
|
10.2
|
10.6
|
11.6
|
8.6
|
7.9
|
7.7
|
8.2
|
10.4
|
10.9
|
11.3
|
118.2
|
Mean monthly
sunshine hours
|
67.9
|
88.6
|
151.0
|
175.7
|
210.0
|
224.9
|
239.0
|
232.7
|
185.8
|
124.5
|
72.2
|
55.3
|
1,827.5
|
Source: Meteo France
[7]
[8]
|
Climate data for Bourges (
Bourges Airport
), elevation: 166 m or 545 ft, 1961-1990 normals and extremes
|
Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
Year
|
Record high °C (°F)
|
17.0
(62.6)
|
22.6
(72.7)
|
24.4
(75.9)
|
27.0
(80.6)
|
29.8
(85.6)
|
35.9
(96.6)
|
38.5
(101.3)
|
39.2
(102.6)
|
35.1
(95.2)
|
31.7
(89.1)
|
21.6
(70.9)
|
20.0
(68.0)
|
39.2
(102.6)
|
Mean maximum °C (°F)
|
10.2
(50.4)
|
13.9
(57.0)
|
15.2
(59.4)
|
18.0
(64.4)
|
23.0
(73.4)
|
28.3
(82.9)
|
30.0
(86.0)
|
28.4
(83.1)
|
26.2
(79.2)
|
19.1
(66.4)
|
13.5
(56.3)
|
9.5
(49.1)
|
30.0
(86.0)
|
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
|
6.6
(43.9)
|
8.2
(46.8)
|
11.3
(52.3)
|
14.6
(58.3)
|
18.0
(64.4)
|
21.8
(71.2)
|
24.9
(76.8)
|
24.3
(75.7)
|
21.7
(71.1)
|
16.9
(62.4)
|
10.2
(50.4)
|
7.3
(45.1)
|
15.5
(59.9)
|
Daily mean °C (°F)
|
3.7
(38.7)
|
5.0
(41.0)
|
7.1
(44.8)
|
9.7
(49.5)
|
13.1
(55.6)
|
16.7
(62.1)
|
18.9
(66.0)
|
18.6
(65.5)
|
16.1
(61.0)
|
12.4
(54.3)
|
6.9
(44.4)
|
4.1
(39.4)
|
11.0
(51.9)
|
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
|
0.9
(33.6)
|
1.3
(34.3)
|
2.9
(37.2)
|
4.9
(40.8)
|
8.1
(46.6)
|
11.1
(52.0)
|
13.0
(55.4)
|
12.9
(55.2)
|
10.8
(51.4)
|
8.1
(46.6)
|
3.7
(38.7)
|
1.1
(34.0)
|
6.6
(43.8)
|
Mean minimum °C (°F)
|
?5.1
(22.8)
|
?4.7
(23.5)
|
?0.1
(31.8)
|
2.5
(36.5)
|
6.1
(43.0)
|
8.6
(47.5)
|
11.8
(53.2)
|
11.0
(51.8)
|
7.8
(46.0)
|
4.6
(40.3)
|
0.6
(33.1)
|
?2.5
(27.5)
|
?5.1
(22.8)
|
Record low °C (°F)
|
?20.4
(?4.7)
|
?14.2
(6.4)
|
?8.5
(16.7)
|
?3.7
(25.3)
|
?1.1
(30.0)
|
3.4
(38.1)
|
5.8
(42.4)
|
4.8
(40.6)
|
1.8
(35.2)
|
?3.0
(26.6)
|
?7.2
(19.0)
|
?12.4
(9.7)
|
?20.4
(?4.7)
|
Average
precipitation
mm (inches)
|
61.7
(2.43)
|
50.7
(2.00)
|
62.6
(2.46)
|
47.9
(1.89)
|
85.2
(3.35)
|
58.9
(2.32)
|
51.5
(2.03)
|
51.7
(2.04)
|
54.8
(2.16)
|
49.8
(1.96)
|
58.7
(2.31)
|
64.5
(2.54)
|
698
(27.49)
|
Average precipitation days
(≥ 1.0 mm)
|
11.7
|
10.5
|
11.1
|
9.7
|
12.5
|
8.9
|
7.3
|
7.7
|
8.1
|
9.2
|
10.5
|
11.2
|
118.4
|
Average snowy days
|
3.9
|
3.6
|
2.5
|
1.0
|
.1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1.5
|
2.7
|
15.3
|
Average
relative humidity
(%)
|
87
|
82
|
76
|
73
|
76
|
74
|
69
|
71
|
75
|
84
|
87
|
88
|
79
|
Mean monthly
sunshine hours
|
56.9
|
85.4
|
137.8
|
175.9
|
199.6
|
229.4
|
260.3
|
230.4
|
185.5
|
133.6
|
77.3
|
59.7
|
1,831.8
|
Percent
possible sunshine
|
21.0
|
30.0
|
38.0
|
44.0
|
43.0
|
49.0
|
55.0
|
53.0
|
50.0
|
40.0
|
28.0
|
23.0
|
39.5
|
Source 1:
NOAA
[9]
|
Source 2: Infoclimat.fr (humidity)
[10]
|
Sights
[
edit
]
Transport
[
edit
]
The
Bourges station
offers direct railway connections to
Orleans
,
Tours
,
Lyon
,
Paris
,
Nantes
and several regional destinations. The
A71
motorway connects Bourges with Orleans and
Clermont-Ferrand
.
Bourges Airport
is a small regional airport.
Sport and recreation
[
edit
]
Bourges' principal football team are
Bourges Football 18
. It is also home to the women's basketball club
CJM Bourges Basket
, which has won multiple titles in domestic and European basketball.
Bourges XV
is the premier rugby team in the region, currently playing in French National Division, Federal 3.
Colleges and universities
[
edit
]
Twin towns ? sister cities
[
edit
]
Bourges is
twinned
with:
[16]
Events
[
edit
]
The
Printemps de Bourges
music festival takes place in Bourges every year.
Every summer, and since 2002, Les mille univers hosts a writing workshop in collaboration with
Oulipo
.
[17]
Personalities
[
edit
]
- 16th-century poet and translator
Pierre Motin
was born in Bourges.
- 17th-century composer and singer
Francois Bourgoing
was born in Bourges.
- The merchant
Jacques Cœur
was born in Bourges.
- The manuscript illuminator
Jean Colombe
maintained a workshop in Bourges.
- John Calvin
was a student in the
University of Bourges
.
- The legal expert
Jacques Cujas
lived in Bourges during 1555-1557 and 1575?1590.
- Eustadiola
(594?684) was a saint and abbess.
- The
Impressionist
painter
Berthe Morisot
was born in Bourges on 14 January 1841.
- The
Art Nouveau
sculptor
Julien Causse
was born in Bourges in 1869.
- The philosopher
Vladimir Jankelevitch
(1903-1985) was born in Bourges.
- The writer and historian
Jules Bertaut
(1877?1959) was born in Bourges.
- Beatrice Vialle
, aviator.
- Emmanuel Imorou
, footballer.
- Emilienne Demougeot
(1910?1994), historian, was born in Bourges.
- Marcel Bascoulard
(1913-1978), artist, was born outside of Bourges and resided there for most of his life.
- The mother of fictional character Gabrielle Maple hailed from Bourges in
The Petrified Forest
(1936), endearingly mispronounced "Boorgs" by the actress playing the part,
Bette Davis
.
- Francois Jacques
(1946?1992), historian, was born in Bourges.
- Arnaud Courlet de Vregille
(1958-), painter, was born in Bourges.
- Belle du Berry( born Benedicte Grimault) (1966-2020) lead singer of Paris Combo
- Patrice Gay
(1973-), racing driver
- Geoffroy Tory
(1480-1533), printer who introduced accents into French, was born in Bourges.
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
Bibliography
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Bourges
.
|
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| |
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| |
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Geographic
| |
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| |
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